“Looking at his disciples, Jesus said, ‘Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who ‘have it all’ to enter God’s kingdom?’ The disciples couldn’t believe what they were hearing, but Jesus kept on: ‘You can’t imagine how difficult. I’d say it’s easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for the rich to get into God’s kingdom.’” 1

Why is it hard to get into God’s kingdom?

Because pride gets in the way of God’s provision until we’re humble enough to ask for it.

Pride Gets In Our Way, But Jesus Provides

Jesus Christ loved people and met their needs.

You might have heard he fed more that five thousand men, women and children, but that’s just the beginning. 2 – Jesus filled their bellies. – Jesus encouraged their hearts. – Jesus healed their injuries.

Jesus Christ loved people and met their needs; and he still does. Most people would rather do life on their own. – They deny Jesus’ existence. – They deny Jesus’ compassion to change lives. – They deny Jesus’ wisdom to change hearts. – They deny Jesus’ power to change circumstances.

So they scramble, scrape, scrounge and worry when just a little more is never enough.

“Don’t keep worrying about having something to eat or drink. Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father knows what you need. But put God’s work first, and these things will be yours as well.” 3

While writing that paragraph a woman sitting near me interrupted me to ask me a question. She mentioned that she “cares about God too.” She said that she came to America specifically to attend a spiritual community headquartered in the Twin Cities.

She was very sweet and kind. She expressed appreciation for her “church” which taught her about the “light and sound of God.” Sadly, her faith led her to believe that she could find her way back to god.

Paul of Tarsus knew people like my new friend. “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God…For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 4

Jesus Christ is the guide to God. We cannot, despite our best efforts, find our way back to God on our own.